In the heart of Saxony, the tiny town of Glashütte is the undisputed centre of German watchmaking. To understand the significance of this, we must consider the tumultuous history of the past 170 years, when wars, financial crises, political dislocation, occupation, and socialism swept through Europe, changing the political, economic, and social landscape again and again. Glashütte was spared none of it.

Created by Italian textile and menswear company Ermenegildo Zegna, the ZegnArt Public art project was formed with an ambitious objective: to commission a series of public artworks in countries around the world.

Let’s, for a moment, play that game “If you could invite anyone to dinner…” Our imaginary table has space for seven guests, each of a different nationality, and all must be living, working masters of their art.

Tourbillons appearing to float free of any support; time indicated by rotating discs, chains of diamonds, or tiny spinning cubes: such are the improbable horological inventions that have made Harry Winston’s presentation of a new Opus a highlight of the Baselworld watch and jewellery fair every spring.

In an age when luxury brands make much of building emotion and stories around their products, Riva has the kind of history and the deep emotional power that are worth untold millions of marketing dollars. Its status as a legend is far from hyperbole; the name is right up there with Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Fabergé, and Cartier.